[hr] [Center][img]https://i.imgur.com/ZRIi89Y.jpeg[/img][/center] [hr] [color=darkgray] [color=goldenrod]"So... you sound none too pleased about being the son of Ares. Anything, particular happen there, or should I not ask?"[/color] But, when Pallas turned back to Leo and asked about his father. Leo replied, yet trying to control his annoyance with the subject. [color=cd5c5c]"The short of it is that me and Ares had a bad first meeting."[/color] Leo, shrugged, [color=cd5c5c]"that is it really, and I would rather not see my father."[/color] He could go into specifics about it, but not now. Not with someone he barely knows, and it is not the time for it. Though Leo's reaction to his father sparked a question that he felt like asking. [color=cd5c5c]"What about you? You meet Athena and get along with her?"[/color] [color=goldenrod]"Well, that's the thing about mothers,"[/color] a warm smile creased across Pallas' face, [color=goldenrod]"you know they're at least there at the start."[/color] He broke in a light chuckle. [color=goldenrod]"But yeah. I get on alright with my mother. Sure, she was in and out of my life a fair bit, but I suspect I'm hardly the only one here who'd claim that."[/color] He had little to base that off of other than the reputations of the gods involved, but catching glimpses of the interactions of fellow campers in the distance, he suspected that prejudicial early basis to have some merit. Not to mention the way Leo had just phrased it as 'first meeting'. He wondered if jealousy of some semblance of a family life with his own parents was going to play a part here. He supposed he did hold some level of privilege in that regard. It was a weird situation to find himself in. As a scholarship student to charter schools with fellow kids who were raised with a degree of wealth his own family could never match, he was often looked down upon as 'the poor kid', even though he'd never viewed himself that way due to the nature of his own family. But it was not something he could ever explain to anyone, so he let them hold their prejudices. Unless they looked to make a target of him it was not like they ever really hurt him in any way that mattered. And any schemes by those who did look to target him, he saw through pretty easily and turned against them. In the best of instances, that prejudice merely had people leave him alone. Which was exactly what he wanted. As for Leo, it was the words he didn't say which seemed to hold more weight in negative space, than the information he was willing to part with. And it didn't take too much imagination to think of how a 'poor first impression' with the hot-blooded god of war might have gone. Even before the distaste which Leo made with every mention of his father and the incident in question. It was a raw nerve, and in this place where blood was thicker than water, not one he was willing to be foolishly curious enough to touch and test with the son of Ares. For as confident in his own abilities as Pallas was, he wasn't one to tempt fate. Cos Fates be weird, yo. And certainly not with nothing of any real value to be learned from the experience. Most of those questions would be answered soon enough, in terms of the form of him and others. He'd see soon enough. [color=5a3e85]"You stayed!"[/color] a young woman's voice called, her voice carrying over the music and chatter as she started toward the silent third. He turned naturally to follow the source and took in what he saw. Perhaps not the literal daughter of Aphrodite, so much as the metaphorical based on their silent third's body language. Someone who'd walked with a natural confident gait towards them earlier, now had awkward moments, as he watched them further. [i]And again, this is why you're steering clear of the bar, the vine, and the kids of the goddess of love.[/i] Again, not that that's who she was. In fact, he had his doubts in that regard. Hers seemed a darker allure. Such as a Hecate, a Hades, a Circe... who was the nymph from Odysseus' journey..? Calypso. Although he doubted that the kids of nymphs, who themselves were the children of gods, found themselves called before this place. As interminable seconds passed he found himself wanting to look anywhere but at the pair. He knew the discomfort his eyes could have cast upon people, and their activities weren't for his discernment. There was only a few minutes to midnight. It seemed there was little to learn here, and his social battery was flat as a tack. He couldn't even think of a conversational direction to pivot to with Leo. He really wasn't used to having to be this sociable. It was now dawning on him how limited he was in that regard. It would take more of his effort. But not tonight. [color=goldenrod]"I'm going to call it an early night."[/color] As he began to make the journey back to his cabin on tired and weary legs, fireworks erupted in the nights sky behind him, illuminating the field in a wonderous display behind him. But he never turned back. Instead, he more practically let the flashes guide his way down the path to what would be his home for the duration. As his hand fell on the doorknob, he remembered his bags would be just inside the door, and felt for their presence once he opened the door, before he checked for the lights. His cabin was suddenly awash with light, and he cast golden eyes upon what would be his residence for the first time. He wouldn't want for much. He had a small kitchen to take care of his nutritional needs. He'd noted earlier that meals would be served in the Main Hall. Which was incredibly vague for his liking, but he'd been taking care of his nutritional needs for years now. With it being common knowledge that he'd be coming here from very early in his life, he viewed it as an investment in his own survival. His drive to maximise what he could get from his own body had been extreme. In the main living space there was a smallish, four-shelved wicker bookshelf. He ran a finger along each shelf checking the titles. Each shelf held ten books, somehow regardless of size or width. By the third shelf he stopped and raised an eyebrow. He realised he wasn't retaining the names of any of the books. That... wasn't right. His memory was... Wait... had he seen a copy of McCarthy's translation of [i]The Bubishi[/i]? He ran his finger back across the shelves, and sure enough he found it and pulled it out. Wait..? Obata's [i]Naked Blade[/i] did he have that too? He scanned back over the previous shelves and found that too. But... he would have noticed if [i]Naked Blade[/i] was there. He'd been trying to source it back home, and struggling for his efforts. If there was a copy on the shelves, he would have immediately-- Ah. I see. [i]So if I were to think of... saaaaay... Freedman's Strategy: A History... then I could just...[/i] [i]Yep. There.[/i] He pulled the copy from the shelves. [i]So, it's a bookshelf that has any book I can think of?[/i] He stepped back and considered what he was looking at. [i]Well, what's the limit on..? Hmm.[/i] He thought about the Herculaneum Scrolls. Then started to scan the shelves. [i]Hmm... Nope. Well, is that because..?[/i] A theory formed in his head. [i]OK... How about Rage by Stephen King?[/i] He scanned the shelves. [i]Nope.[/i] Not anywhere to be seen. [i]So it has to be still in publication.[/i] He thought to himself, after thinking of the King book removed from publication by the author because of its content relating to school shootings. After fifteen minutes he'd formulated a set of rules, which the bookshelf seemed to be bound by. The books had to be in publication. He had to know the author and the title. And strangely, whilst he could remove books from the shelves and the space seemed to be filled without gaps... if he removed the books from the cabin, those gaps that you would expect to be there, would suddenly appear. So keep track of any books you lend out, I guess. Ten books per shelf. Four shelves. Forty books. He suddenly remembered how late it was, and decided there was time to discover whatever else was in his cabin tomorrow. Although things seemed to be getting more interesting all the time. He'd need his rest if he was to perform tomorrow. [/color] [center][sup][img]https://i.imgur.com/9qIY4OK.jpeg[/img] [color=808080][b]interactions[/b] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c]....[/color] Leo [color=2e2c2c]...............[/color] [b]mentions[/b] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c]....[/color] River, Anissa [color=2e2c2c]...............[/color] [b]collabs[/b] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c]....[/color] [/color] [img]https://i.imgur.com/9qIY4OK.jpeg[/img][/sup][/center] [hr] [Center][img]https://i.imgur.com/35foN5l.jpeg[/img][/center] [color=darkgray] Baxter had taken to making flaming drinks, much to the distress of one of the girls at the bar, who had started to keep her distance and maintain long stares. Baxter, of course, remained cheerfully oblivious. The Flaming B-52s didn't seem to move as quickly as his earlier unlit attempts, but he did note that the bar was more quiet now in general. Eventually. As he began to slow down under his own steam, from the thrill of the party and producing the line of drinks started to fall on sober... ears? Maybe people wanted something el-- oh! Someone had mentioned midnight, and he had thought it rather early, until he figured out the relevance. New Years! That's why! No wonder the Flaming B-52s won't move! People are waiting on midnight for their-- He lined up a string of champagne flutes along the bar and started digging through the bottles beneath the bar for the best vintage champagne he could find. Finally happy with his selection, he uncorked the bottle and with his off-hand once again finding the tempo of the beat that throbbed through his head, he began to pour in an undulating line down the full length of the bar, landing a perfect balance in each champagne flute, without spilling a drop on any of the edges. He stepped back from the bar and smiled at his efforts for the trick, he probably wouldn't have been abe to pull that off at the start of the night, but he was well on the rhythm of the party now. The bass of its pulse throbbing in his ears. He closed his eyes and bobbed his head to the thrumming music that only he could hear, as a newcomer approached the bar. [color=#4a766e]"Evening Trinity. I decided to get one more drink before midnight. Do you have any recommendations? I just can't handle anything too strong, nor do I want to risk it. In the past it was either a Bailey's Cream or Schnapps. I do like something sweet though. So um, how's your evening been?"[/color] Looking at the bartender, Iliana smiles shyly and says, [color=#4a766e]"Hi, I am Iliana. Welcome to camp. I hope you're enjoying yourself."[/color] Baxter grinned broadly, but vacantly. [i]Baileys or schnapps..? Then how about--[/i] Baxter pulled liquor bottles from beneath the bar. Vodka, kahlua, baileys and-- [color=b22222]"A mudslide!"[/color] He pushed the glass in front of the quiet blonde girl. [color=b22222]"Just like a chocolate milkshake only... not virgin."[/color] As if on cue, a very familiar girl in a very familiar dress stumbled and bumbled up to the bar. Sliding back on to the same stool she occupied earlier. A crooked drunken smile creased across her face, and not reaching weighted eyes. [color=c9bef3]"Miss me?"[/color] [color=b22222]"Well-well-well... if it isn't the life of the party again. And the doll who's wearing it."[/color] He gently teased, upon her arrival. Watching the slowed reaction time and the added weight to the face from the night's effects, he took a sympathetic tone. [color=b22222]"Oh noooo. No-no-no. Honey? Do you need me to take the edge off enough that you could still enjoy a glass of bubbles for when the clock strikes? I don't think a glass of water's going to get it done, with what I'm looking at."[/color] [/color] [center][sup][img]https://i.imgur.com/9qIY4OK.jpeg[/img] [color=808080][b]interactions[/b] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c]....[/color] Iliana, Blair[color=2e2c2c]...............[/color] [b]mentions[/b] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c]....[/color] Fiona (unnamed) [color=2e2c2c]...............[/color] [b]collabs[/b] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c]....[/color] none[/color] [img]https://i.imgur.com/9qIY4OK.jpeg[/img][/sup][/center]